The Two Empresses
The Heir of Phoenix

"You admit the others? I thought you were going to take the throne" asked Lao in surprise. Vristhi sipped some tea and stared fixedly at Lao.

"It's not that easy. I don't have the ability to be a leader. After all, I don't like the affairs of imperial politics that are too much manipulation and corruption" Vristhi replied calmly. "Is there anything else you want to talk about?"

"none. Then I'll say goodbye. I need to keep an eye on the behavior of the elders that are getting wrong" Lao said as he stood up. "The rest I leave to you."

"All right Young Master. Prepare the horse carriage, I will go to the Phoenix residence. Bring me some gifts for a little bit of my kindness, too" Vristhi said firmly. The butler immediately went towards the stables, while the servants prepared gifts. Vristhi changed her clothes with simpler clothes but still captivating even though her average clothes were black. He walked to the front door, where the servants were ready to serve. The coachman in his carriage was ready to take him.

"If you have a guest, refuse. I'm busy today" said Vristhi. The butler lowered his head and helped Vristhi into the horse carriage. The coachman directly controlled his horse to move away from the Rosemary mansion.

......................

"Miss, someone wants to meet you," said the butler, bowing. An orange haired girl like the setting sun turned her head and tilted her head.

"I don't remember having an appointment with anyone" he said. "Who?"

"Miss Vristhi Rosemary" replied the butler. The woman flinched and got up to her feet, her face pale.

"What does he want?" tanyakanya. The butler only shook his head, making the woman terrified and bite her lower lip. "Did you know?"

"Master already knew. But Miss Rosemary insisted on meeting you" said the butler.

"I'll be ready," he said steadily. He hurried to change his clothes and followed the butler to the living room, where Vristhi was sipping his tea elegantly. "Miss Ilmol has arrived."

"After a long time of waiting you finally showed your face, Ilmol. You got the guts against my words?" vristhi Syndir. Ilmol lowered his head, not daring to raise his head until Vristhi's anger subsided. "Sit. There's something I want to tell you and your father." After getting permission, he immediately sat down beside his father with a curious look.

"I want Ilmol to replace Comet as part of the 7 Eternal Wizards" Vristhi said. The head of the family was shocked half-dead and stood up quickly, while Ilmol fell silent in fear.

"Miss! It is taboo for a woman to be the head..."

"Be quiet. I already know this family tradition, so I hope you sit down and listen to me talk to the end. You know there's nothing more to replace Comet than her own brother, don't you?" cut Vrishi. The head of the family fell silent, his hands clenched tightly until his knuckles turned white.

"can't. Our family will not break that tradition until the end of time" the head of the family refused.

"That means you're ready to revoke your 7 Eternal Wizards rights?" ask Vristhi kalem. The head of the family fell silent, his mind was troubled because disenfranchising the 7 Eternal Wizards meant the same as losing self-esteem as the strongest among ordinary magicians.

"...let me think..."

"Can't, the time is too tight. You can only accept or reject. Make the right decision" Vristhi cut again. "And I heard, Ilmol is more talented than Comet."

"I.that's not right," he chirped as he lowered his head. Vristhi frowned and raised her face with just her finger.

"It is common to stare at the interlocutor when socializing. The more you humble yourself, the more people will underestimate you," said Vristhi Ilmol blushed in embarrassment, but nodded slowly. "Good."

"It's too hard. It wasn't easy for us to create a woman in the Phoenix family as part of the 7 Eternal Wizards. Taboo!"

"You're still raving about such ridiculous things? You're ignorant. Hey, bring me a present from my carriage," said Vristhi as she pointed to the butler. After he left, Vristhi resumed the topic. "Lau's already put his attention on Ilmol."

"Even the chairman of the 7 Eternal Wizards thinks so?" tanya Ilmol doubted.

"Ilmol, baby. You are talented, more deserving of the title of 7 Eternal Wizards than that traitor" said Vristhi.

"Don't insult Comet in front of me" Ilmol said firmly. Vristhi was silent, yet slowly a disdainful smile was engraved on her face.

"Is that so? If you want me to retract my words, what if we duel? Who wins must obey the command of tranquilizers."

"Ilmol, baby. Beware, the woman is the strongest after the Arakawa family" whispered the family head. Ilmol nodded and stood before Vristhi confidently.

"Your pride is ingrained, right?" ask Vristhi kalem. Ilmol just remained silent, holding the dual blade in his hand. "Wow, I didn't think I could see this."

"It doesn't have to be that way, Miss Vristhi. Let's just start" said Ilmol. Vristhi gave a smile and immediately called out some undead of hers, but Ilmol canceled it with just a single swing of the sword. Vristhi's slender hand was cut off, but she did not budge.

"Your speed is very dangerous, I'm sure Saciel will die of lice when faced with you" said Vristhi. He returned his hand to reconnect with the magic, then looked at Ilmol in surprise. "If you just keep quiet like that on the battlefield, you'll die."

"will not. We bear the name Phoenix which means 'eternity', so we are difficult to destroy" Ilmol said. Vristhi laughed and took out a coffin.

"Not wrong, but not right. Even though you are immortal, there will be times when you become weak and helpless" said Vristhi as she opened the coffin with a single flick. But there's nothing inside.

"What do you mean open an empty box?"

"I wanted to use Comet's corpse, but baby I don't have one" said Vristhi. A sudden fire ignited Ilmol's body, his gaze now growing more terrifying.

"Dumb necromancer! Just die you!" maki Ilmol while advancing and ready to slash again, but this time Vristhi was able to dodge and punch him to fly far enough. "Aghhh!"

An undead emerged from behind his back and stabbed his stomach with a rusty sword. Ilmol immediately burned it, closed the wound as quickly as possible and ignited the fire around Vristhi. Before Vristhi was able to extinguish it, Ilmol again stood before her and threw his dagger towards the dark purple eyes, but his dagger stopped in midair.

"It's interesting, you're more talented than Comet. Well, Ilmol, let's put an end to all this" said Vristhi. He kicked Ilmol to the point of falling down in front of him, then stuck a sword on the side of his head. "Give up."

"No.will! I'm not gonna let you win!" balas Ilmol's. He rose and spun with both swords still in his grasp, incising wounds on Vristhi's body though not deep enough. But not enough to get there, Ilmol threw his dual blade in Vristhi's body. Blood started to flow from the wound.

"Ugh" said Vristhi. Ilmol pulled both of his swords violently and jerked them away to keep the blood from sticking.

"Give up" said Ilmol firmly. Vristhi gave a smile and slowly melted into mud. Ilmol was shocked and searched in all directions to find the woman.

"Searching?" ask Vristhi kalem. He sat next to the head of the family while sipping his tea. There was no sign of his body just being stabbed.

"What does this mean?" Ilmol.

"You just fought me, didn't you? Why are you angry?" ask Vristhi wonder.

"You kidding? Then what is this?" reply Ilmol while pointing at the puddle of mud formed. Vristhi gave a smile and stood up gracefully.

"One of my dolls" replied Vristhi. "But baby we have to put an end to all this. Checkmate," said Vristhi while pointing at Ilmol. Suddenly his body was stiff and could not be moved, not even his lips. Slowly he saw a thin thread like a spider web twisting around his body like a marionette doll.

"You fell into my trap, Ilmol. You think I just kept quiet while insulting Comet? You will not be able to escape my grasp and until now no one can. I haven't tried it on Saciel yet" said Vristhi. "Pick, are you giving up or are you going to continue our fight?"

Ilmol realized he had no choice, but he did not want to admit. He tried to burn the thread, but it was not powerful at all, as if the thread was not a solid object.

"You're just burning it. It's a magic thread" Vristhi said as she opened her mouth. "Well, Ilmol. Say."

"...I gave up" he said resignedly. Vristhi smiled in satisfaction and released Ilmol, then turned to face the head of the family.

"Ilmol Phoenix will be the new head of the family here, there or without your permission" Vristhi said. "Thank you I didn't report this to Lao."

"I understand, Miss Rosemary," said the head of the family limp. "I'll erase that tradition from this moment."

"Come to the Requiem residence tonight, Ilmol. We will welcome you with open arms" Vristhi said as she left the place.